Adv. Hort. Sci., 2014 28(4): 214-224 Wild grape germplasms in Japan H. Yamashita*, R. Mochioka** * Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37, Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan. ** Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita, Kagawa, Japan. Key words: anthocyanins, breeding, classification, geographic distribution, growth cycle, Vitis. Abstract: In Japan, seven species and eight varieties of wild grapes were identified, among which the main species are Vi- tis coignetiae Pulliat, V. flexuosa Thunb., and V. ficifolia Bunge var. lobata (Regel) Nakai (syn. V. thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc.). This paper summarizes the identification and classification of wild grapes native to Japan based on the past reports. Their distributions in Japan and physiological and ecological traits are also reviewed for effective practical use for grape breeding in the future. 1. Introduction cies found in Japan. Many other species exist locally in limited areas. In addition, researchers from Osaka Pre- It is thought that ancestors of grape (genus Vitis) ap- fecture University discovered Shiohitashibudou (tenta- peared during the first half of the Cretaceous period. They tive name) (Nakagawa et al., 1991). The geographical then spread around the world according to environmental distribution of the wild grapes native to Japan are shown and anthropogenic influences, and now comprise three ma- in figures 1-4. These figures were created from a site jor groups of species: European, North American, and East survey from Hokkaido to Okinawa starting in 1973, and Asian species, which differ in their physiological and eco- were made based on past records and reports using con- logical characteristics (Horiuchi and Matsui, 1996). Wild served (pressed) leaf specimens from Hokkaido Univer- grapes native to Japan belong to the group comprising the sity, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Kyoto University, East Asian species. Only a few reports on wild grape spe- Niigata University, Kumamoto University (Japan), and cies, including classification, physiological, and ecological Taiwan University (Taiwan). characterizations, have been published so far (Horiuchi and Matsui, 1996). Nevertheless, the importance of wild grapes Yamabudou, Vitis coingnetiae Pulliat (Fig. 1) as genetic resource for grape breeding has gradually been This species is widely distributed from level ground recognized because some wild grapes show superior traits to the lowest mountain areas in Hokkaido; from the low- towards global warming in terms of sustainable berry pro- est areas in the mountains to the mountain zone in the duction under hot and humid conditions. Tohoku district (northeastern region of Japan); from the This paper describes the identification and classifica- mountain zone to the alpine region in the Chubu district tion of wild grapes native to Japan. Their physiological (central region of Japan); and in the alpine regions of the and ecological traits, as well as their utilization are also Kinki, Chugoku, and Shikoku districts. It is thought that reviewed by focusing on the latest research findings re- this species is also present in a limited area of the alpine garding wild grapes native to Japan. regions in the Kyushu district, but it has not yet been dis- covered around Mt. Aso, which is consistent with the fact that we could not find any pressed leaf specimen in the 2. Geographical distribution universities located in the Kyushu distinct. It is notewor- thy that this species is not distributed in South Korea, This, and previous studies, found that seven Vitis spe- China, and neighboring countries; including Far Eastern cies and eight varieties are distributed throughout Japan, Russia. However, it has been confirmed that Yamabudou from Hokkaido (northern region) to Okinawa (southern grows naturally in the South Chishima and Sakhalin dis- region) (Table 1) (Nakagawa et al., 1991). Of these, Yam- tricts (Horikawa, 1972). abudo, Ebizuru, and Sankakuzuru are the three main spe- Sankakuzuru (Gyojanomizu), V. flexuosa Thunb. (Fig. 2) Received for publication 17 September 2014 This species is distributed in the mid regions of the Accepted for publication 14 November 2014 Yamabudou (Fig. 1) and Ebizuru (Fig. 3) ranges, overlap- 214 Table 1 - Systematic and geographical distribution of wild grapes native to Japan (Nakagawa et al., 1991) Species or varieties Japanese name Locality where grown Vitis coignetiae Pulliat Yamabudou Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku Vitis coignetiae Pulliat var. glabrescens Hara Takeshimayamabudou Hokkaido, Honshu Vitis flexuosa Thunb. Sankakuzuru (Gyojanomizu) Honshu, Shikoku, Kyusyu Vitis flexuosa Thunb. var. rufo-tomentosa Makino Kesankakuzuru Southern Honshu, Shikoku Vitis flexuosa Thunb. var. tsukubana Makino Usugesankakuzuru Northern Honshu Vitis flexuosa Thunb. var. crassifolia Hara Atsubasankakuzuru Shikoku Vitis saccharifera Makino Amazuru (Otokobudou) Southern Honshu, Shikoku Vitis yokogurana Makino Yokogurabudou Shikoku (Kochi Pref.) Vitis ficifolia Bunge var. lobata (Regel) Nakai Ebizuru (z) All over Japan (Vitis thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc.) Vitis ficifolia Bunge var. izu-insularis Hara Shititouebizuru Izu Islands Vitis ficifolia Bunge var. sinuata Hara Kikubaebizuru Southern Honshu, Shikoku, Kyusyu Vitis ficifolia Bunge var. ganebu Hatusima Ryuukyuuganebu Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Yaeyama Islands Vitis austrokoreana Hatusima Kenashiebizuru Tsushima Islands Vitis kiusiana Momiyama Kumagawabudou Kyushyu (Kumamoto pref., Kagoshima pref.) Vitis shiragai Makino Shiragabudou Honshu (Okayama pref.) Vitis sp. Shiohitashibudou (tentative) Kyusyu (Kagoshima pref.) (z) used in some classifications as a species (thunbergii). Fig. 1 - Geographic distribution of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat (Nakagawa Fig. 2 - Geographic distribution of Vitis flexuosa Thunb. (Nakagawa et et al., 1986). al., 1986). 215 ping with the two species, and is found in slightly lower al- of Japan. Takeshimayamabudou, a variety of Yamabudou titude areas than Yamabudou (Fig. 1). We can usually find (V. coingnetiae), was discovered in Hokkaido (around this species from the lowlands to the mountainous area of Lake Akan) and Nagano prefecture. It has no hairiness on the Tohoku district or the Chubu district; it does not grow the lower leaf surface and a thinner leaf compared to Yam- naturally in Hokkaido. abudou. Kumagawabudou has prickly shoots and ovoid leaves; one wild grape (V. davidii) with prickly shoots Ebizuru, V. ficifolia Bunge var. lobata (Regel) Nakai (Fig. 3) grows naturally in China, however, it differs significantly This species is one of the most widespread Vitis species from Kumagawabudou in its morphological characteris- in Japan. Its distribution extends from the southern Hok- tics. Shichitouebizuru grows in seaside areas of seven is- kaido region to the flatlands and mountainous terrain in lands of Izu. Moreover, its fruit-set is the highest among the Okinawa district; it can be found in a wide variety of all wild grapes native to Japan. habitats, including both the seashore and urban districts. This species is considered to be highly adaptable to the environment, thus it has a wide distribution compared with 3. The classification of Japanese wild grapes other Vitis species. As a result, many variants of morpho- logical and physiological traits are found in this species as As genus Vitis is mainly classified by morphology, a result of adaptation to local climates. Ryuukyuuganebu, some taxa may be taken as different classifications even Shichitouebizuru, and Kikubaebizuru are varieties belong- if they are the same grape. For example, Shiragabudou ing to V. ficifolia. Kenashiebizuru is also closely related to has two scientific names, Vitis shiragai Makino (Makino, V. ficifolia, although its scientific name is given as V. aus- 1918) and Vitis amurensis Rupr. (Ohwi, 1953). In this sec- koreana Hatusima. These grapes are generally included in tion, wild grapes native to Japan are classified concisely the V. ficifolia group. based on chemical, biochemical and genetic knowledge. Other species (Fig. 4) Morphological classifications As shown in Table 1 and figure 4, in addition to these, Classification by leaf structure. Galet (1979) tried to many species and varieties are spread in various districts classify genus Vitis through ampelographic measurements Fig. 3 - Geographic distribution of Vitis ficifolia Bunge var. lobata (Re- Fig. 4 - Geographic distribution of wild grapes native to Japan (Nak- gel) Nakai (Nakagawa et al., 1986). agawa et al., 1986). 216 of the leaf (Fig. 5, Table 2). Nakagawa et al. (1991) coded Cordiform: 357 to 468, Cuneiform: 135 to 247, Truncate: the characteristics of grape leaves and the result is present- 045 to 247, Orbicular: 015 to 136, Reniform: 014 to 136. ed in Table 3. Code numbers of vein length rations (ABC) According to this method, code numbers are relatively for the five basic leaf shapes are as follows (Galet, 1979): near for close species (e.g. V. coignetiae and V. amurensis) (Table 3). Classification by pollen ultrastructure. Mochioka et al. (1993) observed ultrastructures of mature pollen grains of wild grapes native to Japan, Korea and China using a scanning electron microscope and reported that the pollen could be classified as one of three types by the lumina forms in muri (Fig. 6). They also reported the Table 3 - The code number of various wild grapes obtained by using the Galet’s method (Nakagawa et al., 1991) Species ABC-r-S1S2 Vitis coignetiae 146-4-24 Vitis amurensis 146-3-24 Vitis